Covering for walls or like surfaces.



its. 774,890,

Patented November 15, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEONHARD G. MUTTERER, OF HAMBURG, GERMANY.

COVERING EOR WALLS OR LIKE SURFACES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 774,890, dated November 15, 1904. Application filed August 20, 1904. Serial No. 221,556. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LLEONHARD G. MUTTERER, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Hamburg, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in (Joverings for Walls or Like Surfaces, of which the following is a specification. ,As is well known, in covering the walls and doors of rooms, furniture, .and the like with so-called velvet, flock-paper is employed, on which the pattern has already been produced. These papers are manufactured by laying the already-printed paper strips in horizontal position and coating them with a viscous oil-varnish and then scattering the shearings or pulverized wool by means of a sieve, while at the same time beating or tapping the paper from below for the purpose of producing better distribution of the sieved wool particles. Apart from the expense, however, the hanging of walls, covering of furniture, and the like with such papers has many disadvantages. For instance, even with the most careful workmanship and most expensive papers so-called seams-that is to say, the

- places wherethe strips of paper meetare always to'be seen, the more so since the individual strips, in consequence of their being prepared independently of each other, do not always exhibit exactly the same nap or finish. Further, rents or cracks frequently make their appearance and the pattern is also very liable to become injured in rolling the papers.

All these defects are overcome by my invention, according to which I do not employ flock-papers as has previously been done, but apply the flock pattern direct to the wall, and since the surface is here vertical the prior method of sieving and heating is naturally dispensed with.

In carrying out my invention I proceed as follows:

I take a suitable adhesive medium, preferably white lead, settled oil, (oil that has become thick by standing,) and varnish, mingled to form a viscous mass, and then apply the same by means of a brush to the wall or other surface in question. Hereupon I take a preferably coarse woolen cloth, large enough to cover the entire surface, and spread over it the wool shearings or flock of the desired color or, in place of this, finely-ground wood-shavings (so-called wood-wool or like substance, whereby the fine particles will remain adhering to the fibers of the cloth. I then secure this cloth to the bottom of the wall and carefully spread it out so as to cover the entire surface, when finally I transfer the particles of wool to the wall by lightly beating the back of the cloth with a brush or the like. Should the margins, corners, or any other places remain uncovered, wool dust or particles can be applied to such subsequently by means of a pair of bellows or a distributer. In this manner a flock-surface is obtained exhibiting a uniform color and to which patterns can now be applied. For the latter purpose a stencil or design plate or the like, provided with the desired pattern, is applied to the wall not yet dry, and the particles of wool which are to constitute apattern are given the same direction by means of even and regular strokes of a brush. After the surface is quite dry any superfluous material can be removed or the wall cleaned with a brush without injury to the pattern. Such mural surfaces exhibit a very remarkable color effect, owing to the particles of wool at the different parts lying in certain definite directions to each other.

The costs of production are not more than about one-half those involved in the employment of flock-papers, and seams, cracks, and rents are impossible. In this manner also damp walls can be given a flock-covering without any preliminary treatment being necessary, as all that is requisite is that the surface of the wall is plastered as ordinarily for the reception of a coat of oil-paint or wall-paper.

What I claim,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The process of covering walls, doors, furniture and the like, with flock, finely-ground wood-shavings, or similar fine or dusty substances, consisting in spreading an adhesive medium over the surface to be covered, applying the dusty substance to a cloth, and then transferring it therefrom to the surface to be coated by spreading the cloth over the latter, substantially as described.

2. The process of covering Walls, doors, furand brushing the dusty particles in like definiture and the like, with flock, finely-ground nite directions, substantially as described. Wood-shavings, or such similar fine'or dusty In testimony that I claim the foregoing as substance, consisting in spreading an adhesive my invention I have signed my name in pres- 5 mediillmdover the surface to belcolverled, applyence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ing t e usty substance to a c 0t 1, t ien transferring it therefrom to the surface to be coated LLONHARD MUTTERER' by spreading the cloth over the latter, and Witnesses: producing patterns on the still moist flock- E. H. L. MUMMENHOFF, I0 surface by applying stencil-plates to the latter OTTO -W. HELLMRIOH. 

